Day of the Outlaw NC

The film takes up a few different women's issues throughout its course. During one of the films first scenes (involving a 'neighborly' cup of coffee), the women are out of scene at first in the kitchen. This separation invokes a feeling of inequality as perceived by many Westerns. Expecting the women to simply care for the men, Helen is very outspoken and makes known her difficulty of finding a husband up to her standards. Often in Westerns, women are objectified and seem to be bartered like good at times, but this moment is a rare time when a man must meet a woman's needs and not the other way around. From this scene, the duality of social standards in the separation of the women contrasted to Helen's individuality and strength shows the struggle of women in becoming independent and expanding their rights in a rigidly masculine society.

Another woman's issue discussed is the fidelity of marriage. In a later scene, Helen confronts Blaze and offers herself to him, even as she is already married. She swears to tell her husband she no longer loves him and do as Blaze desires. This scene also offers a duality in that while Helen seems to be unconditionally surrendering herself to Blaze, giving up any control, she exerts control of her marital faith in that she does not take the form of a piece of furniture in her husband's life but instead gives proof that she has a voice and opinion. She controls her sexuality and shows that she can be cold as men of the West can be cold.

The dancing scene shows exaggerated objectification of women. As one man seems to be starting to rape one woman, another man comes to take her. A child curiously watches on the staircase in the background. Seeing the child, the scene made a point of showing how not just objectification but inequality plagues society, and women are victimized and children are helpless to act. The final scene of the movie involves a duel between the gang and men which decides what happens to the women, showing really that these women are still objects at the end of the film. The film's story was not to bring equality, but the audience can take away that the women, while making progress and becoming stronger, being portrayed stronger than most previous films, still have much progress to make and still have many social obstacles to conquer.